Shenmue 3gets a second chance on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and likely Nintendo Switch 2 with an Enhanced edition that features 4K textures, faster loading times, and more. Those who have the original game on PS4 and PC will get an upgrade path, but this Enhanced Edition might be a great way to open the sequel to new players.
The following pictures are from the original Shenmue 3 because no assets for the Enhanced version have been provided by ININ Games or Ys Net as of the time of writing.
An Improvement on the Experience
Game creator Yu Suzuki and Shenmue 3’s new publisher ININ Games has announced a new version ofShenmue 3that will include new visuals, performance boosts, and quality of life updates. It will also be the first time the third entry will be available on Xbox Series X|S and an undisclosed Nintendo platform (which will likely be the Switch 2, due to the game’s 4K output).
The publisher promises “sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay” for Shenmue 3 Enhanced. There will also be DLSS/FSR support for certain platforms that offers high quality upscaling “without sacrificing performance.” The village of Niaowu, with the power of newer platforms, will include more NPCs walking down the streets, offering a more realistic setting. Additionally, for those who don’t like the modern view of Shenmue 3, they can get a classic camera mode that looks just like the original two games.
And that’s not all for Shenmue fans, who want to revisit the third installment. Health restoration will occur before fights, and there will be reduced money barriers to alleviate frustration within a playthrough. Another quality of life update lets you skip cutscenes and conversations, and there is an expanded quick time event time window for more accessible gameplay. Navigation has also reportedly been improved and there will be “helpful purchase alerts.” If you don’t like any of the major changes, however, you can go back to the original experience of Shenmue 3 with all the graphical improvements from the Enhanced version.
The first Shenmue originally launched on the Dreamcast in 1999. It was very ambitious for the time.
No release date has been given for Shenmue 3 Enhanced yet. ININ Games also says that details about the upgrade path for PC and PS4 players to the Enhanced edition will be “coming soon.” Whether or not there will be a physical edition orcollector’s set from Limited Run Games, like Shenmue 3 is yet to be announced.
A Troubled Past
Shenmue 3 had a tepid response from critics when it first launched in November 2019. Many believed that the game felt stuck in the 2000s era. “One of the biggest issues withShenmue IIIis Ryo himself, as he hasn’t developed as a character at all over the past three games,” said our sister siteTheGamer’s 2/5 review. “He is still the same dense and stoic character that he was in the original Shenmue.“The review also mentions the controls are clunky and that the game is “painfully boring to play.” Hopefully the Enhanced version can improve on both of those aspects.
Unfortunately, Shenmue 3 did not sell well when it launched on PS4 and PC.Game Revolutionreported in 2020 that Shenmue 3 contributed to a loss of almost $8 million for the original publisher Deep Silver. A new publisher, ININ Games,stepped in to save the franchisewith the developer Ys Net.
